As seen in the above video, Sugata Mitra lead a remarkable study concerning children's desire and capacity to learn. In his experiment, he placed computers in some of the world's poorest slums and made them accessible to the children living in these areas. The results of his experiment were exceptionally noteworthy, and there is much to be drawn from the video; however, there were two findings that particularly stood out to me.
First, the children were immediately intrigued and began to explore and learn in response to their own natural curiosities. These children were not forced to learn; they desired to learn. Yet in American schools today, it is quite the opposite. Teachers often have a difficult time trying to keep students engaged in their lessons and even have to push them to participate. It makes one wonder where that natural curiosity has gone. Richard F. Bowman Jr. addresses this issue in an article he wrote entitled, "How Can Students Be Motivated: A Misplaced Question?" Bowman (2007) states that children are innately inquisitive, but the dry environment of our classrooms tend to diminish that curiosity. He suggests that students need more collaborative learning and discovery learning to truly make their education enjoyable and meaningful (Bowman, 2007). This concept can also be seen in Mitra's video. The children thrived on searching for answers, solving problems, and sharing information with each other. It is my belief that this type of environment is what drove them to be self-learners, and I also believe that the use of technology is what really makes this type of environment possible.
Secondly, the children in the video were living in very poor conditions, yet they were still able to learn. This clearly demonstrates a belief that every good educator should hold: all children are capable of learning. As addressed in each educational course I've taken, there will be students in the classroom who come from poverty; there will be students with disabilities; there will be students with all sorts of diversity. Yet no matter what the students in the classroom face, each and every one of them can learn. They all have remarkable potential. Many of the students even have potential that far exceeds our expectations, as seen in the video. If we simply invest in them and give them the right resources, they can grow and flourish. And again, technology is one of those resources that so evidently enhances children's education and further increases their ability to succeed.
These are just a couple of my thoughts on the video, but there is so much to learn from it. I hope you all watched and enjoyed it as well, drawing your own ideas and conclusions. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think about the items I addressed and also share your own thoughts. As the video shows, collaborative learning is a such a great method of education. So, please, jump right in! :)
Reference:
Bowman, R. F. (2007). How Can Students Be Motivated: A Misplaced Question?. Clearing House, 81(2), 81-86.
5 comments:
Very well put Amber! I like your comments on no matter what the students face, each and every one can learn. I believe that, however remember each child learns at a different pace and it is our job as teachers to recognize this and help them achieve success.
Yes, you're absolutely right. Children do learn at different paces and in different ways; that's what makes educators so essential. While all children have the capacity to learn (even on their own), they still need someone to guide them in their learning and individualize their instruction. Like we've discussed in class, technology is great education tool, but it can not replace the value of a good teacher :) Thanks for your comment, Mike!
I think you hit the nail on the head, if we invest in children we can make a huge difference. Technology can be a valuable resource!
I think Ambers' comment is great it shouldn't matter but in many cases it does wind up being the case.I think the way we learn will always be an intriguing topic regardless. The will to educate only creates more ways and innovative techniques toward learning. Great Blog.
"Yet no matter what the students in the classroom face, each and every one of them can learn." I agree with your statement given an environment conducive to learning and the appropriate resources students will excel.
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